With the Miami Dolphins proving to be just a roadblock and nothing more against an inspired New York Giants team, they will push forward against the Washington Redskins in week 16. The release of Janoris Jenkins seemed to motivate the young rookies who were battling for playing time.
There’s no question head coach Pat Shurmur told both DeAndre Baker and Sam Beal to go out and earn the No. 1 corner position, as they both played well. Beal recorded 11 combined tackles with eight solos, and also came up big with a tackle in the endzone resulting in a safety.
Baker, on the other hand, had two pass breakups and 11 total tackles. Despite their success, Dolphins’ DeVante Parker finished the day with 72 yards and two scores, displaying the youthfulness of the Giants’ secondary. However, while the defense is littered with rookies, veteran passer Eli Manning remained under center for the second-consecutive week.
Should the New York Giants play it safe with Daniel Jones?
One could make the argument that the Giants should sit rookie passer Daniel Jones for the remainder of the season, considering his mild high ankle sprain and the success Manning has had through two weeks (not including the three INTs against Miami).
Risking further damage to Jones’ ankle might force the Giants to stick with the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the remaining two games of the season, and it makes sense if his injury isn’t healed to a point where there’s no pain present. If Jones is still feeling discomfort, they should not push him to play, especially with the amount of time he’s had to develop and gain essential film.
Jones was never expected to become the consistent starter this season, and earning 11 week’s worth of experience and film will give him a great foundation to build off of. He’s already racked up three 4-score games in his young career, a number that should spur optimism moving forward.